New aerospace investment fuels job growth across Alabama – Made in Alabama

Alabama’s aerospace industry is attracting new investment and expanding capabilities as companies add hundreds of jobs to produce innovative high-tech products in communities across the state.

“Because of Alabama’s long history in aerospace, we readily have the expertise, the talent and the infrastructure companies need to grow,” said Angela Till, Deputy Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. 

“That’s why aerospace is a natural growth sector for us, and it provides the kind of high-paying jobs that we are always working to recruit to our state,” she added.

As industry leaders gather for today’s beginning of the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, Till and a small working team from Commerce have a clear message for industry leaders — Alabama’s aerospace sector is in growth mode after having seen sustained levels of new investment flow into the state.

In the past decade, the aerospace/defense and aviation industries have announced growth projects in Alabama involving over $4.3 billion in new investment and almost 12,000 job commitments.

The industry’s biggest names continue to invest in Alabama, including United Launch Alliance, which earlier this year completed a $300 million-plus expansion project at its Decatur rocket factory, and Airbus, which is adding a new Final Assembly Line for A320 Family aircraft.

Together, those two projects alone are adding over 1,300 aerospace manufacturing jobs in Alabama.

Here’s a look at some of the other new growth projects taking place in Alabama:

GE Aerospace

Ohio-based GE Aerospace recently announced over $70 million in new investments at its Alabama facilities.

The Auburn facility will get enhancements in additive manufacturing technology through a $54 million investment that will introduce additional 3D printing machines. The project is expected to not only improve production of jet engine components but also create job opportunities at the facility.

The Auburn facility was the first in the industry to begin high-volume production of a 3D-printed part for a jet engine.

With an allocation of $16.8 million, the GE Aerospace Huntsville production site will see upgrades in machinery. The plant is America’s first production center for unique materials used to manufacture ultra-lightweight ceramic matrix composites, or CMCs, for use in jet engines.

Raytheon

In April, Raytheon launched a $115 million expansion of its Redstone Raytheon Missile Integration Facility, which will increase the factory’s space by more than 50% and

bring an estimated 185 new jobs to Huntsville site.

The facility handles integration of the Standard Missile family, including SM-3 and SM-6. It will also accommodate additional defense programs, including the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI), designed to defeat the emerging threat of hypersonic glide vehicles.

“With our rich history in aerospace and flight, it comes as no surprise that Raytheon has once again chosen Alabama — and specifically, Huntsville — for this expansion,” Governor Kay Ivey said at a groundbreaking ceremony.

“Some people call it the ‘Rocket City,’ I’ll raise that and say: the brightest minds in aerospace and defense call it home,” she added.

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin recently marked the opening of a new $18 million engineering facility, labs and demonstration center in Huntsville. The company said the 122,000-square-foot facility provides space for 500 employees who will advance national security capabilities and drive innovation in North Alabama.

“The crucial work being done here by our customers, our company, and our industry partners has made Alabama a key 21st-century, high-tech defense and deterrence provider that’s ramping up to ensure our troops will stay ahead of accelerating threats across every domain — land, sea, air, space, and cyber,” said Stephanie C. Hill, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems president.

With the opening of this facility, Lockheed Martin’s footprint in Alabama expands to 30 work sites in the state employing over 3,300 people.

Brookley Field

MAAS Aviation has launched plans to expand its operations at the Brookley industrial complex in Mobile, joining VT MAE, which is expanding its MRO activities there.

MAAS, known for its expertise in aircraft painting, today operates three painting hangars at Brookley and is poised to operate two additional paint shops and create up to 150 jobs, according to the Mobile Chamber.

VT MAE last year announced plans to add 200 jobs as it equips its Mobile facility to convert and modify Airbus A320 Family passenger jets as cargo aircraft.

Airbus’ manufacturing facility is also located at Brookley.

‘SAS campus’

Special Aerospace Services (SAS), a space and defense engineering, hardware, and communications technology solutions platform, kicked off a project to build a flexible, multi-use manufacturing facility, the “SAS Campus,” in Huntsville.

This facility, located at Cummings Research Park, will span over 40,000 square feet, including 30,000 square feet of flexible manufacturing space. Construction is expected to be completed in 14 months, with the facility set to create up to 60 jobs.

“Our presence in Huntsville, particularly in Cummings Research Park, positions us perfectly to leverage the proximity to key talent and industry partners,” SAS Chief Executive Heather Bulk said in a statement.